Press Releases
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Grant Award for Oakland I-980 Replacement Study
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, applauded the Department of Transportation’s announcement of $680,000 in funding for a California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) study on potential replacements to Interstate 980, a freeway that divides disadvantaged communities in Oakland. In September 2022, the Congresswoman hosted Secretary Buttigieg in her district, where they toured I-980 and other local transportation. … Continue Reading
February 22, 2023
Reps. Lee, Pocan Reintroduce People Over Pentagon Act to Cut Bloated Defense Budget by $100 Billion
Washington, D.C. - Today, Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-12) and Mark Pocan (WI-2), Co-Chairs of the Defense Spending Reduction Caucus, reintroduced the People Over Pentagon Act to cut $100 billion from the Defense budget and reallocate the funds to the American people's most urgent needs. This Congress, the bill has the highest number of cosponsors in its history. “Year after year, this country pours billions into our already-astronomical defense budget without stopping to question whether the … Continue Reading
February 21, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Releases Statement on Fire at First AME Church in Oakland
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) today released a statement on the tragic fire at Oakland's First AME Church: "This is devastating news. First AME Church of Oakland is a beacon of light in Oakland and has served our community for decades. I've known this church, pastors, and members of the congregation since my days in college. We all must pray and rally support for this church family." ### Congresswoman Lee is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Ranking … Continue Reading
February 20, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Mourns the Loss of Anita Williams
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) today released a statement on the passing of dear friend and former colleague Anita Williams: "I'm heartbroken and deeply saddened to learn that my dear friend and former member of Team Lee, Anita Williams, has passed away. Anita was a kind, dedicated, and selfless woman whose life was spent serving her community and those around her. She was a political force in the Bay Area and an unbelievable field and casework staffer. As a member of the California … Continue Reading
February 17, 2023
Reps. Lee, Waters, Jeffries, Clarke Introduce Bill to Honor Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm with a Congressional Gold Medal
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), joined by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8), Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43), and Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-9) today introduced a bill to honor the work and legacy of the late Shirley Chisholm with a Congressional Gold Medal, which serves as the highest expression of national gratitude for distinguished service and achievements. Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman to serve in the United States Congress, and the first … Continue Reading
February 17, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Bill to Provide Security Deposit Assistance for Low-Income Renters
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, today introduced the Delivering Essential Protection, Opportunity, and Security for Tenants (DEPOSIT) Act to provide federal funding to low-income renters to assist with security deposit payments. There are at least 2.26 million active Section 8 vouchers and 14.7 million very low income renters who face cost burdens with housing. In California, where the average statewide rent is roughly $2,950, that … Continue Reading
February 09, 2023
LEE, KAINE, YOUNG, ROY, SPANBERGER, & COLE INTRODUCE BILL TO REPEAL 1991 & 2002 AUMFs, FORMALLY ENDING GULF & IRAQ WARS
Today, U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Chip Roy (R-TX-21), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), and Tom Cole (R-OK-04) and U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs), formally end the Gulf and Iraq wars, and reassert Congress' Constitutional role in deciding whether and when to send our servicemembers into harm's way. The 1991 and 2002 AUMFs-which passed 32 and 20 … Continue Reading
February 07, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Commemorates National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with Resolution
Washington, DC - National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, observed every February 7th since 1999, was created to being more awareness to HIV and AIDS within Black communities. Today, Co-Chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus Congresswoman Barbara Lee reintroduced a resolution to support the goals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, recognize the progress made, and recommit to the work remaining in the fight against these diseases. "In 2019, of the estimated 1.2 million … Continue Reading
February 07, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Reacts to President Biden’s 2023 State of the Union
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the below statement following President Biden’s State of the Union address to Congress. “Tonight, our nation and the world saw President Biden outline the historic, unprecedented progress we have made over the past two years with a Democratic government. “We should all take time to celebrate this progress, especially considering the state of our nation when Biden took office. In just two years, we’ve created 12 million jobs—more than … Continue Reading
February 02, 2023
Rep. Lee Opposes Shameful Republican Effort to Remove Rep. Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), Co-Chair of the Steering and Policy Committee and Senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement following the passage of the GOP resolution to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on which she has served her entire tenure in Congress: "Rep. Omar, who I've had the pleasure of getting to know well over the years, has been a strategic and effective legislator from her first … Continue Reading
February 01, 2023
Rep. Lee Named to Appropriations, Budget Committees for the 118th Congress
Washington, DC - Rep. Barbara Lee announced today that she has been named to serve on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Committee on the Budget in the 118th Congress. The Congresswoman will serve as Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. As the former Chair of this subcommittee, Rep. Lee will continue her longtime advocacy for international peace and diplomacy, human rights, HIV/AIDS treatment, global health, … Continue Reading
February 01, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates 2024 American Women Quarters Program Honorees
Washington, DC - Today, the United States Mint announced the following 2024 honorees for the American Women Quarters program, made possible by Congresswoman Lee’s Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020: Patsy Takemoto Mink was the first woman of color to serve in Congress. As a Member of Congress, she fought for gender and racial equality, affordable childcare, and bilingual education, most notably with the passage of Title IX, which was later renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal … Continue Reading
February 01, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates Black History Month
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee today released the following statement celebrating the start of Black History Month, observed each year during the month of February. “Over the next 28 days, our nation pauses to reflect and honor the significant contributions and sacrifices of our great African American heroes and sheroes, who dedicated and often sacrificed their lives to the fight for equity, civil rights, and social and economic justice. “This month, I look forward to … Continue Reading
January 26, 2023
Reps. Lee, DeGette, Pressley, Schakowsky Reintroduce EACH Act for Reproductive Justice
Washington, DC - Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-12) and Diana DeGette (CO-1), Co-Chairs of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), Chair of the PCC Abortion Rights and Access Task Force, and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Chair of the PCC Providers and Clinics Task Force, led a group of 163 members in reintroducing the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Healthcare (EACH) Act, bold legislation to guarantee abortion coverage regardless a patient’s health insurance. The EACH Act ends the … Continue Reading
January 24, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Series of Mass Shootings in California
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement after the shootings in Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay and Oakland, CA: “24 hours ago we were mourning the tragic loss of life in Monterey Park, and now yet another mass shooting in Half Moon Bay and one in Oakland. “I’m heartbroken for the families and loved ones of the victims. I’m mourning with them and sending my deepest condolences and prayers to them at this time. “If we joined every other developed nation on … Continue Reading
January 23, 2023
Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Mark Roe Week in Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement: “This week, on what should have marked the 50th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are fighting for more. Together with our Pro-Choice Caucus colleagues, we are fighting for true reproductive freedom and abortion access for all people, regardless of income, insurance, race, or zip code. As people across the nation … Continue Reading
January 23, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deadly Mass Shooting in Monterey Park
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee issued the following statement on the deadly mass shooting that occurred on Sunday in Monterey Park, California: “Lunar New Year should be a safe, joyous day of culture and community. On a day we are supposed to be celebrating, we must mourn yet another tragic loss of life. My deepest condolences go to the family & loved ones of the victims, and I am praying for a full & speedy recovery for those injured in the mass shooting yesterday in … Continue Reading
January 22, 2023
Congresswoman Lee Joins Vice President Harris, Pro-Choice Colleagues in Florida on 50th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Tallahassee, FL - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, joined Vice President Kamala Harris in Tallahassee, Florida on Sunday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Congresswoman Lee was joined by members of the Florida Congressional delegation as well as other members of the Pro-Choice Caucus. “Today, we should be celebrating 50 years of progress in the fight for reproductive justice. But in the 8 months since an extremist right-wing Court … Continue Reading
January 16, 2023
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Statement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) issued the following statement in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is observed annually as a national day of service on the third Monday of January in honor of the civil rights leader’s birthday on January 15, 1929. “Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of the great Dr. King, a man whose message and life’s mission could not be more pertinent to the present moment. “This year will mark the 60th anniversary of Dr. … Continue Reading
January 13, 2023
Rep. Lee Joins Colleagues in Urging President Biden to Issue a Major Disaster Declaration for California
Oakland, CA - U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (CA-12), alongside Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and the rest of the California Delegation, authored a bipartisan letter urging President Joe Biden to issue a major disaster declaration for the State of California in response to recent severe weather. A major disaster declaration for California would provide a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent … Continue Reading